Nigeria, other African countries lose $200b to plant pests, diseases yearly

• 40% Of Crops Lost To Plant Pests, Diseases Yearly—FAO
• Contributes To Economic Losses In Sub-Saharan Africa—IITA
• UN Declares 2020 As International Year Of Plant Health
The United Nations General Assembly has declared year 2020 as the International Year of Plant Health (IYPH). This is aimed at raising global awareness on how protecting plant health can help end hunger, reduce poverty, protect the environment and boost economic development.
This has not only showed the importance attached to plants and food crops, but the urgent need to start conversations that will help promote understanding and awareness about the importance of plant health.Plant or crops provide 80 per cent of the food humans eat, plant also provide feeds for livestock, more importantly, plants provide the oxygen humans breath. However, the major threat plants face now is pest.
The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) estimates that up to 40 percent of food crops are lost to plant pests and diseases yearly. These leave millions of people without enough food to eat and seriously damaging agriculture, which is the primary source of income for rural communities.

The Director of Plant Production & Health Management, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr. David Chikoye, put the losses incurred yearly as a result of the plant pests and diseases, across Sub-Saharan Africa, at over $200b considered as a significant amount of money.One of the factors given by experts for the persistent spread of pests and diseases to new areas is the expanding international trade and travel, which increases the risk. Considering the huge economic losses incurred as a result of the challenge, coupled with the health challenges posed by continuous consumption of unhealthy plants, there is renewed vigour by stakeholders to key into the IYPH, by raising awareness and continuous efforts to protect plant health.So far, IITA appears to have taken the bull by the horn. The institute has undertaken researches with partners on plant health to ensure food and nutritional security and meet some of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).Specifically, the institute’s focus is on Fall Armyworm (FAW), and Aflatoxin, in which it has recorded breakthroughs, which have drastically reduced economic losses of farmers.FAW (Spodoptera frugiperda) is an insect pest of more than 80 plant species, causing damage to economically important cultivated cereals such as maize, rice, sorghum, and also to vegetable crops and cotton. It is native to tropical and subtropical regions. It is the larval stage of the insect that causes the damage. FAW reproduces at a rate of several generations per year, and the moth can fly up to 100 km per night. It is currently in 31 African countries.

Aflatoxins are poisonous carcinogens, produced by certain molds (Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus) which grow in soil, decaying vegetation, hay, and grains. They are regularly found in improperly stored staple commodities such as cassava, chili peppers, corn, cottonseed, millet, peanuts, rice, sesame seeds, sorghum, sunflower seeds, tree nuts, wheat, and a variety of spices. When contaminated food is processed, aflatoxins enter the general food supply where they have been found in both pet and human foods, as well as in feedstocks for agricultural animals.
Contaminated animals feed can pass aflatoxin transformation products into eggs, milk products, and meat. For example, contaminated poultry feed is suspected in the findings of high percentages of samples of aflatoxin contaminated chicken meat and eggs in the Indian subcontinent.
Children are particularly affected by aflatoxin exposure, which is associated with stunted growth, delayed development, liver damage and liver cancer, among others.Aflatoxin contaminates up to 65 per cent of maize and groundnut crops. More than 95 per cent of children under five in some countries have aflatoxin in their body signifying high exposure. It affects many other crops such as melon seeds and rice.
Support to Agricultural Research for Development of Strategic Crops in Africa (SARD-SC) Maize Commodity Specialist, Sam Ajala, who took journalists on field tour of the IITA experimental farms said the FAW was first noticed in Nigeria in 2016 but prevalent in 2017.He said: “The pests feed on the leaves, reducing the photosynthesis area. When the leaves are fully opened, they go into the stem, eat up the maize and cause economic losses. After much research, it was discovered that the specie of the pests are similar to the ones in Florida, which means it must have been brought into the country from there.
“Pesticides have been tested on the pests and they are not really working. It was discovered that if you are using a particular pesticide for a long time, the pests will resist it and it will not work again. Currently, we have succeeded in developing resistant maize breed that tolerates the pest.”
To combat the aflatoxin contamination, IITA and partners have developed an all-natural product, Aflasafe, which drastically reduces aflatoxin in crops. Aflasafe contains native non-toxic strains of Aspergillus flavus that out-compete toxin-producing ones when applied in the field.
When it is correctly applied and all facilitative conditions are met, farmers in several countries consistently achieve 80 to 100 per cent reduction in aflatoxin contamination in their maize and groundnut fields.One application of Aflasafe every cropping season, provides protection from aflatoxin in a cumulative manner, along with attendant health benefits.

A Plant Pathologist/Bacteriologist and consultant in IITA, Ibadan, Oyo State, Dr. Maria Ayodele said the major objective of the IYPH is to raise global awareness on how promoting plant health could help end hunger, reduce poverty, among others, explained that food security could only exist when all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food for an active, healthy life.She said low crop yields were common in many developing countries and improved productivity was vital to reducing poverty and increasing food security.According to her, the causes of low productivity are complex, which includes the often-neglected issue of the importance of plant health in productivity and hence, in food security.“One major aspect of plant health, concerns crop losses due to pest, constraints, estimates of losses of 30 to 40 per cent of crop production annually are common.“Any future solution regarding improved global food security must address these losses. That means improving plant health of what we are currently producing,” she said.Ayodele further said that IITA had been involved and had good reputation on plant health management by taking measures, which included bio-control of cassava mealy bug, bio-pesticides, integrated stigma control and aflatoxin management.

Courtesy THE GUARDIAN

Benefits of Keeping Clean and Healthy Environment at Homes

Maintaining clean and healthy environment at homes by regularly taking cleaning measures and avoiding water blockages will be beneficial for residents of all ages. Although, young people have high tendency to resist the diseases, they may still be affected by the polluted environment. The cleanliness and having a healthy environment is more beneficial for the children (especially crawlers) and for the senior citizens.

The baby crawlers have more tendencies to get the infections from the floor germs. The cleaning measures if adopted regularly will minimize this risk. In addition, as the time progresses after youth and people start to attain maturity in their ages, their tendency to fight germs and diseases minimizes.

A clean environment is also healthy and is thus beneficial for the children and mature persons as well as the young people. A neat, clean and tidy house is the key to have a healthy family. So, in order to protect your parents and children from diseases, adopt the policy of cleaning your homes on regular basis and avoid water blockages for germs and viruses to grow.

Adopting a clean environment at homes also helps to save your money as it protects insects and germs entering your homes. It will certainly result in healthier people at your homes. Thus, the money spent on medicines to cure diseases and fees paid to the doctors will be low

Some people make the mistake of associating the term “Cost” with commercial cleaning. In fact, it should be recognized as an investment if its benefits are to be counted. Sometimes, it requires guts and convincing power to explain executives of a company know the benefits of clean environment and to assure them it pays many times more than the money is incurred to achieve this in many ways like

• ·         A clean and healthy environment will definitely result in a workforce with improved health. This will certainly minimize the average number of sick leaves per employee within a company thereby improving productivity.
• ·         A neat and clean workplace is a nice tool for marketing whether in terms of clients, selling the building or lease space.
• ·         The neat and clean workplaces are less exposed to employee accidents and injuries as a result of slips and falls. A cleaner workplace is safe for the employees and therefore meets the international safety standards.
• ·         A clean and healthy environment minimizes the stress and provides a positive outlook on the working environment.
• ·         A regular cleaning process may improve the life of assets of a company i.e.; the carpets, equipment, tiles, floors, and furniture etc.
• ·         A nice and clean workplace is a nice tool to attain value as occupants will feel nice and better to stay there. Therefore, employees are encouraged to hard work and indulge in team efforts collectively.

It is even thought by some of the experts that commercial cleaning should be under the health industry as it is the only industry by far to have strongly acknowledged the importance of keeping a clean and healthy environment at workplaces. The other commercial units, only link cleaning benefits to the physical appearance. However, in fact, if the correct relationship is built on cleanliness, its impact on employee’s attendance, customer satisfaction, and employees productivity, no one will ever think of cutting the cleaning budgets.

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Importance of Living in a Clean and Healthy Environment

     

A clean and healthy environment is essential for the growth and survival of Wild Life, fruits, vegetables and other species under water. All of them are being negatively impacted as a result of pollution and change of climate due to human activities. There are a loss and degradation of the habitat as a result of polluted activities. We use them to fulfill our several different needs like food, water, shelter, breathing and other necessities. Providing harm to one particular organism, in a chain reaction, it will certainly put a negative impact on us. The greater the diversity on earth, the greater is the chances of survival for humans.

The components of the clean environment are clean water, air, energy, and land. I bet that one who gets familiar to the importance of having a clean environment will definitely focus on adopting, promoting and maintaining a clean and healthy environment at homes, offices, public places and to say the least, wherever he goes. This article puts an insight into the importance of having a clean environment by addressing various advantages. Maintaining a clean and healthy environment for the sustainability of humans is essential at both the domestic and industrial levels.

In addition, there are several species which have been totally demolished and no more exist and there are many which are on the verge of becoming so. To avoid such circumstances, and for the survival of these species, it is required to change our living patterns. These species are not only the beauty of life but in fact are vital for many reasons in biodiversity. Their survival is somehow linked to the benefit of the human beings whether directly or indirectly.

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DISEASES CAUSED BY UNCLEAN ENVIRONMENT

The four main diseases influenced by poor environments are diarrhoea, lower respiratory infections, various forms of unintentional injuries, and malaria. Measures which could be taken now to reduce this environmental disease burden include the promotion of safe household water storage and better hygienic measures; the use of cleaner and safer fuels; increased safety of the built environment, more judicious use and management of toxic substances in the home and workplace; better water resource management.

Diseases with the largest total annual health burden from environmental factors, in terms of death, illness and disability or Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs)¹ are:

1. Diarrhoea: Cause by largely from unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene
2. Lower respiratory infections: Largely from air pollution, indoor and outdoor.
3. Malaria: Largely as a result of poor water resource, housing and land use management which fails to curb vector populations effectively.
4. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease (COPD) -- a slowly progressing disease characterized by a gradual loss of lung function. Largely as a result of exposures to workplace dusts and fumes and other forms of indoor and outdoor air pollution.
5. Perinatal conditions:Most of the same environmentally-triggered diseases also rank as the biggest killers outright -- although they rank somewhat differently in order of lethality. Diseases with the largest absolute number of deaths annually from modifiable environmental factors (these are all parts of the environment amenable to change using available technologies, policies, preventive and public health measure). These diseases include: 

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Lung Diseases Cause by Unclean Environment

Any substance other than air that is breathed into the lungs has the potential to cause damage to these organs. For example, air pollution and unclean Environment. Examples of lung diseases include:

• Asthma (AZ-ma), a condition in which breathing is difficult, affects millions of Americans. Environmental triggers for asthma are everywhere and include naturally occurring triggers such as animal dander, plant pollen, dust, and mold, and manmade triggers such as chemicals. Not everyone is sensitive to these triggers, but many people are sensitive to some of them.
• Black lung disease is an illness in which coal miners' lungs become coated with coal dust, causing a chronic condition in which breathing becomes difficult and painful.
• Silicosis (sil-i-KO-sis) is a lung disease caused by exposure to the silica dust in clay. Pottery workers are at risk of developing this disease.

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